by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics are engaged in discussions about a deal that would send forward Kevin Garnett to the Clippers and give them the right to hire Celtics coach Doc Rivers, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks. The person said they are willing to give up two first-round draft picks and young center DeAndre Jordan in exchange for Garnett and Rivers' rights.

The Clippers' unwillingness to give up third-year point guard Eric Bledsoe could be a deal-breaker. They fear that they would be compromising their future by giving him up and are currently contemplating using him in a sign-and-trade that could involve forward Blake Griffin and land the Los Angeles Lakers' (and free-agent-to-be) Dwight Howard. Other players who are on the Clippers' radar as possible upgrades by way of a trade involving Bledsoe include Orlando Magic guard Arron Afflalo and Indiana Pacers small forward Danny Granger.

Garnett has a no-trade clause, but is expected to waive it for the chance to join Clippers point guard and free-agent-to-be Chris Paul in Los Angeles. It's expected that Paul would re-sign and attempt to win his first championship with the Celtics core that last won it all in 2008.

The Clippers' pursuit of Celtics small forward Paul Pierce is not believed to be part of the trade talks, as the more likely approach is that they would anticipate Boston utilizing the $5 million buyout option on the final year of his contract for next season (he's owed $15.3 million) and then sign him as a free agent.

Rivers has three years and $21 million left on his contract, but he's looking to remain part of a title-contending team rather than take part in a Celtics rebuild.

Miami Heat shooting guard Ray Allen, who played under Rivers for five seasons in Boston, including in 2008 when they won a championship together, wouldn't be surprised if Rivers also left the Celtics.

"I mean, it's not like that's the only team he's coached," Allen told USA TODAY Sports. "That's part of sports. You look around the league; some of the best coaches have coached in multiple cities."

There was a time where most thought Allen would end his career with the Celtics. He helped bring them back to prominence, but was lured away by the Heat last offseason. The decision was far from easy for Allen though, as it probably will be for Rivers, who just finished his ninth season in Boston.

"I think just leaving the people, the people you've come to know the many years you've been there," Allen said when asked about the hardest part about leaving. "But once you get down to doing your job, no matter where you play in this league the job is the same. You deal with players, you want to get the best out of them and you want to get the organization on the same page so you can help win. That kinda helps keep everything normal because you know what you're dealing with."

The Clippers parted ways with coach Vinny Del Negro last month, and candidates include former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, former Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott, former Pacers and Lakers assistant Brian Shaw and former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl. They are prepared to pay Rivers approximately $7 million per season if they can get this deal done.